Summer is officially here in the Philippines and it’ll only get hotter from here. There’s no better time to make a “cool” side hustle—literally. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent looking for extra income or a student saving up for the next semester, building your own ice candy business is the perfect way to make your summer worthwhile.
In this guide, we’ll help you build your own ice candy business from the ingredients, equipment, and costing in easy and efficient way!
The 5 Simple Ingredients
The beauty of an ice candy recipe lies in its simplicity. Most of the ingredients are likely already sitting in your cabinet. Just focus on these few high-quality ingredients to achieve that creamy texture while keeping the price point affordable for your customers:
- 360 ml of Evaporated Milk: Adds the necessary richness and milky flavor to the base.
- 300 ml of Condensed Milk: Provides sweetness and contributes to a smooth, velvety mouthfeel.
- 1/2 cup of Granulated Sugar: Just add a bit to enhance the mangoes’ sweetness
- 6 cups of Water: This dilutes the puree to make just the right flavor.
- Flavoring: You may opt to use fresh fruits like mango and strawberries or flavorings from syrups or concentrates. Some of my neighbors also use fruit cocktail to make their fruit salad ice candy!
Essential Equipment for Ice Candy Business
The equipment are also very simple. It only requires basic household tools:
- Funnel: Essential for pouring the liquid into narrow plastic bags without a mess.
- Ice Candy Plastics: Usually size 1.5 x 10 or 2 x 10 inches.
- Knife and Cutting Board: For prepping the fresh fruit.
- Blender: For faster and finer mixing of ingredients.
- Storage Containers: To avoid contamination when storing the ice candies in your freezer.
5 Easy Steps to Make Ice Candy
Follow these steps to ensure consistency in every batch. The preparation only takes about 30 minutes to make. You’ll be needing more time for freezing. Keep in mind that the measurements in this ice candy recipe are just a guide. It’s vital to taste your mixture as you go, adjusting the sweetness or creaminess as you go through each step.
1. Prep the Flavoring
If you’ll be using fruits, peel and slice them into small pieces for easier blending. Reserve some tiny cubes to put directly into the bags for extra texture.
2. Mix the Base
Once your flavoring is ready, transfer it to your blender. Add your water and blend again until it combines smoothly.
3. Balancing the Sweetness
In the base, add the the full can of your evaporated milk then blend again. Carefully add your condensed milk bit by bit until the taste and thickness fits your preference. Once you achieve the creaminess you like, you may add your sugar and blend it for the final time then set aside.
4. Filling and Tying
If you have any fruit slices, place few bits into an ice candy plastic. Use the funnel to pour the mixture, leaving about 2 inches of space at the top. Tie it and place it in a secure container to avoid contamination with other meat or food in your freezer.
5. Freezing
Freeze for at least 6–8 hours or until your ice candy solidifies.
Costing Formula for Your Ice Candy Business
Buying raw materials like fruits can be quite expensive so you must price your product correctly. Use this simple formula to calculate your selling price. The 1.30 multiplier acts as a buffer to cover 30% for labor, electricity, and water. Let’s see an example for you to visualize:
Suppose that you have similar ingredients and packaging cost per unit, each ice candy will cost around ₱20.00 to make. But if you incorporate your desired margin (0.45), you can sell the ice candy for about ₱35.00 and earn ₱15.00 per piece. You may also increase your buffer or desired margin to gain profit even more.
Start Your Coolest Business to Earn This Summer!
You see, this is one of the easiest but very productive ways to enjoy your summer. It’s exactly why you’ll find these frozen treats in almost every neighborhood and sari-sari store across the country. You don’t need anything fancy—just a bit of diskarte (as we Filipinos love to call it!) and the best ice candy recipe for business to get started right in your own home.
Start your ice candy business today and #CheckShopeeFirst to #ShopFromHome the ingredients and materials that you need with exclusive discounts, cashbacks, and free shipping! I also recommend you to try Shopee VIP to access more stackable discounts and Shopee Mall exclusive deals.
